Doctor Killed in Office Was 'Isolated Incident' and Possibly Targeted by Patient
Dr. Ronald Gilbert was shot and killed in his office in Newport Beach, Cal. Monday, police have confirmed. A suspect has been taken into custody, but police are still trying to identify a motive.
The shooting occurred Monday afternoon in an exam room, during a routine visit with a patient. Dr. Gilbert was supposed to perform surgery on the patient, the Jewish Press reported. Instead, he was shot and killed.
The suspect is an elderly man whose name has not been released by police. He was immediately taken into custody after firing six or seven shots, police spokeswoman Kathy Lowe told the press. He is still in police custody today as officials attempt to discern a motive for the shooting.
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Police believe that the shooter specifically targeted Dr. Gilbert, given that he passed through a major portion of the building and waited until he was in an office to fire the shots. No one else was injured in the shooting, and police took him into custody without any problem.
"It does appear to be an isolated incident," Deputy Chief David McGill told the Los Angeles Times.
"I sit right at the front desk; I would have caught the first bullet. This is nuts; people are just shooting everyone all the time," Becky Calderwood, who works two doors down from the office, told the Los Angeles Times.
"What's going on with the world today? I mean, schools, now I got to worry about going to work. This has got to stop," Kristen Cotty, an office supervisor, told the Orange County Register.
Gilbert was a member of the orthodox Jewish community in Newport Beach, and the community has been rattled by his death.
"He was one of the most caring, giving, generous people I knew," childhood friend, Gerry Crews, told the Jewish Press. "I doubt you would find anyone who would say anything bad about him."
Dr. Gilbert is survived by his wife and two children.
